AND NOW....THE WHITE HORSE WALK

DAVID GETTING INTO DAD'S BAD HABITS IN THE BRECONS

SIMULATED ICE CLIMBING AT THE NEC

WHITE HORSE WALK MAP

STEVE BULL AND ME IN TRAINING FOR WHITE HORSE WALK

With paid employment continuing to elude me, I have focussed my mind on other things and kept myself as busy as ever. At the end of January son David and I spent two days trekking the Brecon Beacons in the snow and camping at sub-zero temperatures. In March I watched David compete successfully in the Triathlon at the Outdoor Show at the NEC in Birmingham. I also listened to Joe Simpson describing his miraculous escape from Siula Grande (see www.touchingthevoid.co.uk). 

I have now given six talks about my John o’Groats to Land’s End trek to local groups, and continued to raise cash for Cancer Research and BHF – £8,272 so date. Another four talks are scheduled. Among my supporters during the walk were Steve and Lisa Bull, landlord and landlady of the White Horse pub in Bishop’s Waltham. Upon my return, Steve suggested that, jointly, we might undertake a significant walking challenge nearer to home – something that could be managed within the three-day period that Steve could realistically be absent from his pub.

In response to this I have devised what is now referred to as the WHITE HORSE WALK. It takes place over the 3 days from 1-3 May 2010 and involves a 100km (62.5 mile) trek through rural Hampshire with night-stops at the White Horse Inns in Westbourne, near Emsworth, and Priors Dean, near Petersfield (the latter also known as the Pub With No Name because of the absence of signs). 

Jokingly referred to as the biggest pub-crawl in Hampshire, the walk is being used to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support in recognition of the help given by Macmillan nurses to Lisa’s Mum, Glenda, during her recovery from breast cancer and also to the family of local friend, Keith Cook, whose son Jason died recently of a brain tumour after an 8-year battle.

Word has got about, so Steve and I will now being joined by many other local walkers and supporters. All three pubs are laying on musical entertainment and have pledged food and a free pint to charity walkers. It should be a brilliant May Bank Holiday long-weekend. 

After this? Well, around the end of May I will spend a couple of weeks moseying around the Scottish Highlands, including a week on the Isle of Skye with friends from the Outcasts. Also friend Jim, who I stayed with in Sheffield, has suggested we undertake Wainwright’s Coast-to-Coast walk together. Meanwhile, I’m reading avidly about the High Level Route along the Pyrenees.